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fam26 Wise advice for youth version 2.1

Wise Advice for Youth
By David Cox
[fam26] v2.1 ©2023 www.coxtracts.com
You may freely photocopy and print this for non-profit use

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The Way Things Are

Genesis 8:21… for the imagination of man’s heart [is] evil from his youth

Even God Himself recognizes that in this stage of life, the wickedness of the heart begins and really gets going strongly in the human heart.

Youth is a difficult time, whatever the person or his situation. At the age of 13 to 18, the human body undergoes a lot of changes. The hormones start kicking in, and a child becomes an adult. It is a time of transition to an adult which is when the body grows (height) as well as becomes fully functioning. Youth begin to have a sexual life in that they are physically mature enough to have sex, have babies, and they begin to think about this (again their hormones are at work).




Psalms 129:1-2
Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: 2 many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.

The Bible speaks to Israel as “from their youth”, afflicted with many things, but fighting to not be drown by them. The remedy for this is the same that God gave Israel, to trust in God, and to seek Him with all their heart, and the frustrations will leave, or they will turn into blessings.

A Time when Everything is New

Job 13:26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

When one is a child, their parents decide everything for them, and there is really no problem. But when the person enters the teen years, he thinks he is an adult, and resents everything that others decide for him, from what he is to eat, to what clothes he is to buy and wear, to what household chores he is to do, and all this causes many strong battles between the teen and whatever adult is supervising. It is a pity, but youth is a time of “bitterness and … iniquities” (sins) (Job 13:26). It is important for both the teen and those adults responsible for the teen to recognize this process of becoming an adult, and that both work together as the teen takes on more responsibility and makes their own decisions. One is not without the other.

Proverbs 20:29 The glory of young men [is] their strength: and the beauty of old men [is] the gray head.

Youth is a time of much energy, strength, and activity. They “get bored” very easily because they always want to go, move, have experiences, and do things (but they do not include work in these desires as a rule). To be quiet, calm, and have patience is not normal for youth. On the other hand, the “beauty” of age is its experiences and understanding (wisdom). (They have been down life’s road before and made all these mistakes themselves, in their own life.) Ecclesiastes 11:10b… for childhood and youth are vanity. Teens wrongly invest their energy and life in vain things, which have no eternal benefit, and the aged have wisdom, but don’t have the energy to apply it and use it in their old age. Teens live to experience life, and usually what they invest their lives in is total vanity. What they live for doesn’t have spiritual substance that really is a benefit for them neither here and now, nor in eternity. They want entertainment.

Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these [things] God will bring thee into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth [are] vanity.

God wants teens to be happy (rejoice) in their youth, and to enjoy their youth. But God also calls each teen to always remember that God will judge everything that every person does whether they do good or evil. Those things that are good in His sight, God will reward the person, and for the things that are not pleasing in His sight (vanity and emptiness of spiritual value are the same as sinful here), God will punish.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

God calls each teen to remember that his life is a trip, and as this pilgrimage begins, then it will run, and then it will be over. In the end, life is not so beautiful and “fun” as it was in the beginning. In the end, we will have to face God our Creator, who gave us this life and all in it, and then we will have to make an accounting with Him. Also notice that there are specific sins for youth, and these are to be afflicted (frustrated), bitterness, sorrow (vexation or anger), etc. These specific sins are what commonly occur among teens in their road to adulthood. These come from not wanting to accept or receive the spiritual guides God has set in one’s life, counselors which God has established to care for and guide teens, counselors like parents, teachers, and pastors that have experience, wisdom, and the principles of God to help them. God commands teens to get rid of these sins, to submit themselves to God, to His principles and commands, and to respect the authorities which God establishes in their life to safely guide them into the ways of God.

Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

God has put your parents in your life as a divine authority to protect and guide you until you gain sufficient wisdom and experience to make all of your decisions for yourself. This is not to say that they are dictators in your life forever, but your parents are spiritual guides to guide you in the way of God, and to protect you from problems and dangers, especially spiritual ones. When you pay attention to this authority and obey them, then God promises you “wellness” and “long life”. The attitude itself of seeking wise counsel from older people, people who are wiser and have more experience than you in a matter (even though you may be an adult) is a wise character trait that permits God to help you by wise and godly counsel.  Proverbs 11:14 “Where no counsel [is], the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors [there is] safety.” Proverbs 15:22 “Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.” Many teens live frustrated lives in agony because they refuse to accept that they simply don’t know about things, they are not all wise, and they refuse to seek sound and wise counsel before making decisions or acting.

Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors [there is] safety.”




The Main Problem of Teens

A teen’s main problem is that in a way, they are adults with adult problems at times, and consequences that are fully adult problems, and yet in another way, they are children, because they lack the wisdom and experience to deal with these adult tasks. For example, in Proverbs 7, Solomon presents us with the picture of a young man who passes by a harlot, all pretty and advertising herself with offers of sex, and he is easy prey to her. In reflection, it is observed in Proverbs 7:7, that he was “void of understanding.” The teen is marked with the state of “opening his eyes to the world” but still not understanding how all this works, especially the dangers, tricks, traps, and the deceitfulness of sin and sinful men. Proverbs 7:10 And, behold, there met him a woman [with] the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. Teens are tripped up because of their own character. They see, they want, they take immediately, and without reflection of the consequences or problems that may come of their actions, they act. If something is new, attractive, or desirous for a teen, he wants it, and his reasoning stops right there. God counsels teens that they go slowly with life, analyzing everything in the light of the Word of God to find wise counsel from wise Christians who have experience, wisdom, and personal victory in their own lives.




Be Wise and Learn

Proverbs 1:4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

The book of Proverbs is a book of pure wisdom, given specifically from God to youth, so that they are intelligent and have discretion. Discretion is to handle a thing with a plan, closely examining and thinking through the wisdom or folly of doing it, not just taking things as they happen, but with principles, guidance, and with the purpose of it ending well (for his own benefit and in God’s will).

Proverbs 12:1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof [is] brutish.
Psalms 119:98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they [are] ever with me.

It is possible that a teen may be wiser than the most intelligent and wisest adult, but this will only happen when he is totally saturated with the Word of God, and he understands it very well, and follows it with all his heart. Temper tantrums and wild rebellious actions work against this.

Psalms 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies [are] my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

Obeying the Word of God and the will of God are where true wisdom and understanding begin. This commitment to obeying God’s will in all things allows God through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to guide a person into all wisdom.

Psalms 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed [thereto] according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. A wise teen is highly occupied and busy about knowing God’s will and not sinning, obeying God, and following the morality that God imposes over us, and being found pleasing in His sight.




Youth, Trust in God

Psalms 71:5 For thou [art] my hope, O Lord GOD: [thou art] my trust from my youth. 17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

What gives the blessing of God on somebody is his faith in God. This faith also includes your confidence in God’s counsels, positions, standards, and commandments, that they are wise and useful (beneficial) to you every moment of every day. It is a grave problem of youth (and older people) when they see their own judgment and will as better than God’s instructions on a matter. They see Christianity as a product of their parents, and “that generation” which is not “their generation.” They don’t understand that Christianity is really a relationship with God, with Jesus Christ their Saviour, and that many adults that have no such relationship pretend to be Christians and ruin their own lives and the lives of others around them. Also, they forget that everybody can make mistakes. This happens when one is responsible, but they forget to seek God’s will and wisdom before acting. They forget that everyone, young and old, will have to make account with God one day for everything they have said and done. (Romans 14:12) You are not responsible for other’s actions, but for your own. Trust God, follow Him, believe in the goodness of God, and God’s ways, and you will be happy and blessed always.

Version 1 – 2011

More Tracts from the Family Category

Download Version 2.1

fam26-cox-advice-for-youth-v2.1.pdf (2243 downloads )

Author Pastor David Cox

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SSTeen1-02 Sexual Purity Joseph and His Difficult Life

Joseph and Sexual Purity, we study the life of Joseph, looking at his purity of spirit in the face of sexual temptation.

Sexual Purity – Joseph and His Difficult Life
By David Cox © 2010

In this Sunday School Class, Joseph and Sexual Purity, we study the life of Joseph, looking at his purity of spirit in the face of sexual temptation. His attitude is especially important, as he did not get discouraged, nor did he seek vengeance against the evil that his brothers did to him.




Bible Reading: Genesis 37:3-11 Continue reading →

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fam06 Training our Kids

Training our Kids
By David Cox
[fam06] v1 ©2006 www.coxtracts.com
This tract may be freely reproduced for non-profit use.

The Bible in Malachi 2:15 mentions that God hates divorce God “seeks a godly seed.” God commands us very clearly about our children, that we should guide them in the way of God so that they would be saved and serving God. This is not optional, and the manner of doing it is likewise not optional. Some say that they will wait until their kids are adults and let them choose for themselves. This only lets the world educate your children as Satan and our sinful nature would have it.

The obligation to train them

Eph. 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

This verse commands us to bring them up, doing it the correct way against the incorrect (provoke to wrath). “Nurture” means the act of providing direction to live responsibly in this world. “Admonition” means to counsel about stopping or avoid incorrect or improper conduct based on what God has said in His Word. It is a warning in what should or should not be done. Paul commented that Timothy was wise through his knowledge of the Scriptures (2Tim 3:15), and that this is exactly what the Scriptures do when we study them and apply them to our lives. We should do this as adults, but parents equally should do this for their children until they are able to do it for themselves. The OT is full of examples of these types of exhortations (Deu 4:9; 6:7; Psa 78:3-6).

Love demands Discipline

Pro 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7…for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? The principal point here is that the parent receives the child as his own only if he disciplines the child. The motive for correcting and disciplining our children is not just to chastise them, but to correct their lives so that God doesn’t have to punish them more severely later in their lives. It is love that forces one to discipline, and that has to begin at a young age Pro 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. The child should always hear “we discipline you, because we love you.”

Goals in Disciplining

This instruction is not information only, but it is information about the will of God through the Scriptures (2Tim 3:15) such that it changes his being, his character, his attitude, and his will. This teaching is to help him stop sinning, and it should come from his parents (Pro 1:8-10), and be focused on his fulfilling the will of God (Pro 4:1-4), and recognizing the parents moral values and obeying them by following the pattern of their lives. In the Bible this is “living” so as to obtain eternal life. Isa 38:19 The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.

Psa 78:3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. 5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: 8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God. The end or purpose of training our children is so that we pass our Christian faith to them, so that they may be saved, and not forget God, so that they will keep the commandments of God and walk in faithfulness with God.

Respect for Authority:

Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. God promises us that if we honor and respect our parents that God himself will extend our lives on the earth. Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme. In other words, the will of God is that we have respect for all in authority, especially the elderly and our own parents.

Control of One’s Self:

Pro 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. The person who cannot control his own spirit is a threat to society, and is condemned to suffer under the hand of God and the civil authorities. Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. What God imposes in our lives (and in the lives of our children) is that we deny ourselves, and suffer the hard things in order to comply with God’s wishes. Pro 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. Human character without the influence of God is totally devoid of moral character, and this is seen by the foolish things of the world in his life. Men dedicate themselves to make the biggest ball of rubber bands in the world, as is seen constantly on Ripley’s “Believe it or Not” presenting time after time. Where is the eternal value in such foolishness? What importance will today’s sports have in 100 years? None. Most people hardly even remember it a year later.

Resisting bad influences.

1 Cor. 15:33 says “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” The goal here is to teach our children to recognize and resist bad influences in the world, their friends, fashions, television, what they see, etc. It is good to remember that the saved are a remnant (Rom. 9:27), and we will never be in the majority or the popular.

To be a server, not selfish

Phil. 2:3 Do nothing out of strife or vainglory; rather with humility, each one estimating the others as superior to himself; 4 not looking each one for his own, but each one also for the others. Part of finding God’s will and staying with it is seeing what God wants from our character. It is Satan’s spirit (Isaiah 14:12-15) to exalt oneself. Prov. 27:2 Let a stranger praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips. To be a mature adult Christian who is pleasing to God, one has to focus one’s life on serving others and not being served, seeking to saturate oneself with sensual delights and pleasures.

Spirit of not complaining, but doing everything with a good heart, as for the Lord: Here we see the attitude of the child. Many times your child may agree to do what you tell him to do, but he does not do it in a good spirit, but with murmuring and conflict. Phil. 2:14 Do everything without grumbling and disputing. Col 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. Here we see that God fixes the attitude of our hearts when we do something, even things that seem insignificant to us. Our Christian faith shines through even our “insignificant” activities in our lives because we have joy, peace, and encouragement in everything we do.

We must include here also Job 9:27 “I will forget my complaint, I will leave my sad countenance, and I will strive.” Part of having the right attitude is not to float when it’s something you don’t want to do. One must do what he does with joy of heart, and this joy must be manifested outwardly.

How do we do it?

We must focus on some methods that God has sent for us to instruct our children. The first is for being the spiritual example for our children. The truth is that everything one can say or instruct a child is for nothing if the person teaching him is a hypocrite in his own life before God. The vision that God gives us about this is to take them where we are going. Genesis 18:19 For I know that (Abraham) will command his children and his household after him, to keep the way of the Lord, doing justice and judgment… Abraham’s example is that an obedient believer will always command his own house in the ways of God. This is about the most important thing there is (apart from his own salvation). The influence of a holy life is what changes people. Joshua 24:15 But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. We also see the good example of Joshua in showing dedication and decision in following God and in training his children in the things of God.

Second, we must see that training our children has a moral character. In other words, we are not only dealing with behavior, but also what causes this behavior. Prov. 22: 6 Train up a child in his way, and when he is old he will not depart from it. The word “instructs” comes from the word “palate”. It refers to the custom of mothers when a newborn does not want to drink milk from her breast. He puts honey or sweets on his palate, and if he wants more, he drinks his mother’s milk. This is probably the first thing such a creature learns. Thus the training is to deal with moral principles and rules. This implies that no father can train his children well without going to the Holy Scriptures, studying and teaching them. Sometimes people try to impose morals without reference to the Bible, and this always fails.

Third, we must understand that God commands us to discipline our children in order to impose these moral teachings on them. The point is not to punish them for their bad behavior, but to change their spirit and appearance to obey God. Prov. 3:12 For the LORD punishes the one he loves, as a father punishes the son he loves. Prov. 13:24 He who spares punishment hates his son, but he who loves him corrects him early.

More Tracts from the Family Category

Author Pastor David Cox

Pastor David Cox

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fam15 Always late for the house of God

Always Late for the House of God
By David Cox
[fam15] v1 ©2008 www www.coxtracts.com
You may freely reproduce this tract for non-profit use

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Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Col 4:5

We ask ourselves at times why some of our brethren always arrive late to the house of God. The world we live in grows more complicated and entangled every day, and the demands on our lives and time also grow every day. At times it seems that we will never reach something what appears like peace and tranquility. When we touch on this problem, it is only tip of the iceberg.

We need to take time to reflect and meditate on what we are doing, how we live our lives, and above all, how we relate to our God. The plan and work of Satan is to never allow us peace and calm so that we can reflect, meditate, and order our lives after what pleases God.




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jw06 Is Jesus Christ a creature or the Creator?

Is Jesus Christ the Creator or a Creature?
By David Cox
JW06 v1 ©2011 http://www.coxtracts.com/
This tract can be freely reproduced for non-profit purposes

Within certain groups, there has been a resurrection of old heresies, and one of these old heresies is the belief that Jesus is a creature, an angel created by God as the Captain of the heavenly forces. They propose that Jesus was the first created thing (firstborn), and they believe that he created the rest of creation. Paul attacked this false belief in Colossae, and wrote Colossians to refute it.

Note: the abbreviation “NWT” is the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ version of the Bible, New World Translation.

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pc10 Sexual Purity

Sexual Purity
By David Cox
[PC10] v1 ©2008 www.coxtracts.com
This tract can be freely copied for non-profit use.

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It is not an impossible fight!

1Pet 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

With the increase of pornography and the constant lowering of standards, sexual temptation has become one of the principal problems for Christians. It is a spiritual fight so intense that almost every Christian has it. This fight is not impossible to win, but it is very difficult.




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pc30 Discerning the Will of God

discerning the will of God

Discerning the Will of God

Discerning the will of God
Por David Cox

discerning the will of God[cp30] v2 ©2011 www.coxtracts.com
You may freely reproduce and photocopy this tract



Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

They asked King Alphonso 1st the Great, King of Aragon and Pamplona, “Who is the person most happy in all the world?” He answered “he who has abondoned himself giving himself over to the will of God, he that accepts all thing, blessings or adversity as coming from God’s hands.”

Those who are truly happy are those that encounter satisfaction and joy in the idea that they have complied with the will of God the Father, whether it is involved with pleasure and personal blessing, or with suffering and affliction. Continue reading →

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ch41 The marks of a bad minister v1_1

The Marks of a Bad Minister
How to recognize him

How to discern a bad minister
By David Cox
[ch41] v1 ©2011 www.coxtracts.com
You may freely reproduce this tract for non-profit purposes

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Ch41

The Marks of a Bad Minister
How to recognize him
By David Cox

[ch41] v1.1 ©2011, 2024 www.coxtracts.com
You may freely reproduce this tract for non-profit purposes

Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

At times, it is difficult to identify who is a true servant of God, and who is not. God has not left us without help in the matter though.

The Marks of an Unsaved Minister

It is interesting that in this minister’s defense before God, (Matthew 7:21-24) that God judged he wasn’t even saved! He defended himself before God in three proposed evidences of his “good minister of God status”: (1) his ability to prophesy, (preach) (2) his power over powers of evil, and (3) his work of miracles and great events. Many in our day want to validate their ministries in a similar fashion. They insist that they are true men of God, exalted ministers of the Highest God, because they have their distinct insight into the mind of God, because their power over demons and evil powers, and most certainly because they impress with what they have done for God, miracles, great works, etc. It is important to note that Jesus in no way tried to contradict what they presented. Perhaps their bragging had some validation in that something notable was on some level accomplished as they claimed. But Jesus’ hard position is that even with signs of great spiritual power; they had nothing to do with God and His Kingdom. Read Matthew 7:21 with great care. The ONLY MARK of a faithful minister is to be always “stuck” on the will of God. “Greatness,” validity, and identification with God is only found in strict obedience to God’s will. Those that exalt God’s will over their own.

Useless Ministers

Matthew 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite [his] fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

In this passage that deals with various parables on service and the child of God, it is very instructive that the evil “servant of God” goes to hell in the end. So we must open the possibility that many supposed ministers of God, preachers, evangelists, or even pastors that exercise official positions in the church, just are not even saved.

The key factor that indicates their salvation is simply their disposition and attitude towards the will of God. The deceiving hypocrite is he who follows his own will in place of exalting the will of God in his life (and ministry) and doesn’t submit to God. These people always pretend to have “biblical ministries”, and they are experts in rhetoric because “they are biblical” or in giving reasons why they are truly “ministers of God”, but if you listen closely, you will see how lightly they respect the Word of God, or how astutely they twist God’s Word to suit their desires, aspirations, and ambitions. They “use” and abuse the Word of God for their own purposes and are not under its authority. True ministers that please God are people who always rely on the authority of Scripture as their authority, but also as THEIR GUIDE,

Jeremiah 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Those that cause Division and Desolation

Jeremiah 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.

One of the principle jobs of the pastor is to gather sheep. This is in one of two forms, both of which fully apply: (1) the evangelization of the unsaved bringing them into the fold (the local church), (2) To visit and encourage members of their church that have stopped coming, to return and actively participate in the church once again. The identifying mark of a fraudulent pastor is that he divides the church by his brutal actions, his cruel attitude, and in general by his style of leadership (way of doing things) which works against gathering and unity. Unity comes because all think alike, and act with the same spirit, carrying the same doctrine. This is not by forceful imposition by authority figures, but by mutual submission to God’s authority.

The good pastor explains the actual text of the Bible, but he also investigates, defines, and insists on the Scriptures ruling over everything the church is and does. The wicked pastor imposes his own will without respect to nor support of Scripture, except some twisted, unclear mental gymnastics. The will of God is grossly abused, mistreated and misrepresented. Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:34) refers to their days of “slaughter”, which is to die and not live. The sheep ought to have a spiritual life within them, and the good pastor will promote this. The bad pastor destroys and kills this spiritual life among his sheep. He undermines, disrupts, and cuts off this spiritual relationship between believer and God (spiritual death). He takes the place of God in their lives.

Leadership by Force and Imposition

Jeremiah 23:2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. 4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.

The style of ministry of a wicked, ungodly pastor is very particular. He scares people with sharp, loud (notorious) actions with lack courtesy and love towards them. He imposes on the brethren, and his objective isn’t to correct sin, but to impose and ingrain his own authority over the people of God. The idea in verse 4 is that (1) they use fear – which is the anticipation of some bad interaction with the pastor. (2) They cause the sheep to be dismayed, which has the idea of submission by means of dragging or violent force, fear, or confusion. He is marked by his leadership style of cruelty, unthinking actions, and an uncaring attitude towards his sheep, anything as long as they obey him. (3) Be lacking – This word is the opposite of pastoral visitation, where the pastor inspects and then handles whatever need they might have. This is totally and importantly lacking.

Errors and the Erring

Jeremiah 50:6 My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away [on] the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place.

There is a specific way in which we sheep should walk, and this is the way of God which Jesus showed us. It is to be spiritual, have faith, and depend on God, and is to complete the work of God on earth. A false pastor is somebody who guides the sheep (he is a pastor), but not in the way of God, and this results in a road that isn’t in the will of God.

This kind of pastor doesn’t bring the unsaved into a saving relationship “with the Master” (the bad minister isn’t saved himself), but rather he collects people to obey his rule and authority stolen from God. This wicked pastor isn’t laboring in intercession and prayer for others, nor does he have compassion and love for those in error, sin, or the unsaved. He may be very astute (usually is), but his presentations, teachings, sermons don’t show great insight and understanding into Scripture, rather they are tools to build his empire.

A true man of God is concerned that others submit to God’s will, and rebuke of sin and repentance from sin are regular objectives of their ministry (moral change). The false prophet is greatly disgusted over all this, and he will make false repentance over meaningless issues, and he regularly pleases himself with indulgence into sin of some kind. But his prime objective is that everybody follows his will, nobody can think or discern God’s will except the pastor.

Rather than understanding Scripture for themselves, the wicked pastor confuses the issues that most press against his own personal sins, distracting, detracting from the importance of him repenting of his own sin. He substitutes tradition (“we have always done it this way”), authority of his office (“I am pastor, and I call the shots here”), or he appeals to popularity. A good pastor preaches sermons to himself first, and having repented himself first, and makes it a great sermon for all. You can mark the bad pastor by his drive to change the traditional, New Testament presentation of what “church is” to a modern version that is more accommodating to our tastes. Reverence, worship, and exposition of God’s actual words are replaced with an entertainment type attitude and environment, where “judging and rebuking sin” is not seen nor present except in unbiblical ridiculous ways.

John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

The work of God focuses on the person of Jesus Christ, our Savior but also in the spiritual image of Christ. We should imitate Christ. Paul presents this command (Ephesians 5:1).

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Ezekiel 37:24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.

“Why” God gives good shepherds “according to the heart of God” (Jeremiah 3:15) to the sheep is so that they can direct the sheep INTO God’s way, God’s will, obeying God. Churches today get involved in all kinds of foolishness except the actual work of God as presented in Scripture, evangelism in the street, prayerful intercession, exposition of Scriptures… A bad pastor will “tend away from these things,” not following Christ’s example.

Feeding themselves

Ezekiel 34:2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel…Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: [but] ye feed not the flock. 8 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because [there was] no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;

Wicked pastors tend to feed themselves, not entering into personal sacrifice, personal risk or adversity, but they seek the “easy life”. They want others to give them a good economic life, but they don’t do the real work of God the right way. Spiritual fruit and abandonment of sin are not the natural products of their ministry or life.

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ch42 Destitution of Pastor

Destitution of the Pastor

The Destitution of the Pastor

Considerations and Reasons in which the Pastor should leave his office.

By David Cox
[Ch42] v1 ©2011 www.coxtracts.com
You may freely reproduce this tract for non-profit purposes.





The Destitution of a Pastor: considerations and reasons why the pastor should step down

By David Cox

[ch42] v1.1 ©2011, 2024 www.coxtracts.com
You may freely reproduce this tract for non-profit purposes

There are often problems in churches between the pastor and the members. In general, the pastor is the one who governs and leads the church according to what God teaches him. In itself, the concept of a Pastor is to lead (or govern) the flock of God. The Bible does not indicate that the church can remove the Pastor, because it simply does not like a matter that he does, especially when it is of minor importance. But the pastor is not without his duties and responsibilities either. He cannot do whatever he wants. For some, the pastor is “untouchable.” Once he enters, nothing short of God killing him, or the pastor himself resigning that can remove him. But that is not the case.




Is it Biblical to Destitute the Pastor?
(to remove him)

In 1 Timothy 2:11-15; 3:1-7; and Titus 1:5-9, the Apostle Paul explained the requirements for the bishop, who is the one who cares for the church spiritually and governs it. In making requirements, God gives us to understand that (1) not everyone is qualified to be a pastor, and for this reason, there are requirements before entering the office of bishop. (2) if a pastor officiating and ministering as a bishop becomes disqualified, then he must step down from that position and ministry. It is not valid to dismiss the pastor because you do not like something he does. Each person has “his style” of leadership and of doing the ministry and being a pastor. It is his privilege to direct things as he sees fit. The dismissal must come because he does not fulfill his duties, or for reasons of breaking a biblical norm, a biblical example, or not being exemplary (according to what most men of God and more spiritual Christians in the group see). In 1 Timothy 5:19-20, it clearly speaks of an elder’s rebuke openly before everyone, so pastors are not untouchable.

Subject to Requirements 1Timothy 3:2-3

Many times, wolves or immature men can deceive with their cunning, and for this reason, God says that the deacons and the pastor must be tested first, and then exercise their ministry if they are blameless (1 Timothy 3:10), i.e. meet the requirements. Paul put “these also” with the deacons so that we understand that the test is applied to the pastor as well as the deacon. Likewise, in reading Jeremiah (19 times) and Ezekiel (9 times almost all in chapter 34), God rebuked the errors and faults of the shepherds of Israel (the spiritual leaders of the nation). God rebukes them and speaks repeatedly of their dismissal, and that God is going to exchange them for a man of God who would do the will of God.

Jeremiah 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God… 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

The pastor is the local living example of Christ (if not, he should step down). His leadership and ministry are one of demonstrating the will of God by the current and historical example of his own life. That is, before spiritual authority, before teaching or preaching, the pastor teaches and guides BY WHAT HE IS SPIRITUALLY. It is hypocrisy to say, “do as I tell you, not as I personally do.” So, if this is the basis of his ministry, when the pastor does not live correctly, he is not blameless like the example of Christ, he should step down or be dismissed.




The Requirements for Being Pastor

According to 1 Timothy 2:11-15; 3:2, it is expressly forbidden for a woman to serve as a pastor, or to preside, or to lead, or to preach, or to teach before the mixed group (men present) or in the general assembly (in any way speaking and being in front of the group in an official or authoritative capacity) or the church (when men are present). Simply put, the job of pastor-bishop is for men, not women.

It is equally forbidden if the pastor is not or does not continue to be “a one-woman man.” Homosexuals, adulterers, or divorced people are excluded from this ministry. The job of pastor is to teach and counsel the group by word and deed. If he does not live up to biblical standards, he should not enter, and if he should “change his mind” about the standards, he should either leave or be removed. God requires that the pastor “be blameless,” and this means that the pastor is an example of Christ, and has no defects, stains on his testimony, or is of bad report. We all sin, but the pastor must be a man who by his personal life’s achievement in following Christ is qualified to stand before others. He is not given to wine, vices, and addictions, but is free from them.

The Character of the Pastor

Although we can say that it is the privilege of each pastor to lead the group in general as he wants, there are conditions in this as well. First, it is appropriate to use this as a shield to not comply with God’s standards. These standards are obligatory for every believer, whoever he may be, but the pastor must especially manifest submission and obedience to them. The requirement of not being arrogant means not having an attitude of haughtiness, that is, that he is better than others, and does not care about the lives, feelings, or well-being of others. The pastor is there to give the flock the social, emotional, and spiritual support of God. His purpose of being over the flock is exactly this, to take them to a place of spiritual good, and to take care of them there, and any problem that exists, the pastor is there to correct it, to place the brothers in God’s will, or to give comfort if there is nothing else to do (such as the death of a family member). So, the biblical pastor is marked or distinguished from the evil pastor by being prudent and decorous, a host (1 Timothy 3:2). Prudence is saying the right thing, acting in a noble and healthy way, in a way that others see your behavior as the best in the world.




Being of good behavior and hospitable means having your life in order, everything as it should be, and having a “pro-people” attitude and actions. The biblical pastor wins others to Christ and serves the people of God by his attitude and actions of “being by their side” and not against them. Although sometimes the pastor must take the position of the beloved father who scolds his child, he loves, his actions, words, and attitude are always to benefit and edify the people (so that they walk in the will of God), and not to attack and destroy them. God has imposed that pastors live from this work, but the difference between the wolf and the beloved pastor is simply their attitude toward the will of God and the flock. The good shepherd wants to be God’s instrument to bless them and edify them so that they become adults, mature Christians. For this reason, the pastor does not stoop to the whims, tantrums, outbursts of anger, and the chatter of foolish old women. This is also involved with not being a novice (1 Timothy 3:6), but someone who, through his ALREADY ESTABLISHED experience in the ministry, demonstrates his spiritual and emotional stability. Titus 1:7 mentions “not soon angry” or hot-tempered as a character that disqualifies the person, and this is angry, emotionally explosive, always ready for, looking for and liking fights, arguments, and struggles. 1 Timothy 3:3 uses the phrases not a striker and not a brawler, or the concept of not being quarrelsome, which means that it is a person who loves to fight and win over others and to roll in fame and recognition of his superiority from others. The good shepherd is not like that, but he is controlled, demonstrating the way of God, the character of Christ by his own life, and this is the idea of ​​“prudence.”

2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

In 1 Timothy 3:3, Paul specifically states that the person who occupies the place of leader-example of the church must be “gentle, mild.” This means that he is a person with patience, and that he is gentle in his dealings with others, a true “gentleman”. His life demonstrates the gentleness, calmness, and patience of Christ, and if not, then he should not enter, nor should he remain as a shepherd. Isaiah 40:11 also refers to this gentleness and mildness that should be the norm between shepherd and sheep.




Greedy Dogs and Insatiable

Isaiah 56:11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, everyone for his gain, from his quarter.

Furthermore, the Bible emphasizes time and time again that the false prophet always has his eye on money and how he can reap what is not rightfully his, and the man of God is a person “not greedy of dishonest gain” (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7).

How do you remove this a Bad Pastor?

There are two possibilities here, the nice way, and the ugly way. The Nice Way. When a Christian who has a viable and living relationship with Jesus Christ as his Savior enters the position of pastor of a church, and he falls into sin, or lets his testimony fall, or becomes bitter in his attitude, he by himself, by his own conscience, will want to step down from being a pastor so as not to tarnish the name of his Savior.

1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

The true Christian cares a lot about how his life reflects on his Savior. Because of stains in his testimony (his way of living), others do not come to Christ, or they stumble over his bad testimony, and this should be a strong motive in any Christian not to fall into sin, and if he does fall, to correct his life quickly, and not to occupy places of prominence during or after his sin or bad testimony.

The bad way. Unfortunately, the wolf does not care about any of this, and simply his hold on power over the church and the brethren is exactly like a dog with a bone. You are going to have an ugly fight if you try to take away his prize. (This is why the process of selecting a pastor must take its time, be a calm, quiet process, and understanding the requirements and praying over them and each possible candidate before anything formal and permanent is done.) The only thing that causes a dog to give up his bone is a strong blow to the head with the shepherd’s staff. This is why they used this staff. They will defend “their prize” with vengeance. It will be a challenge to “touch not God’s anointed” (See my tract of this same title, Ch26).

Titus 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.

God wants us to rebuke the erring Christan sharply at times to bring about spiritual healing in our lives and churches. Unfortunately, at times, even pastors get out of line. The more spiritual men of the church should speak strongly to the pastor to remove him if he does not fulfill his duties and requirements. Strong words of exhortation and encouragement should be given (constantly) before a removal process is begun. The pastor needs to know that his people are not ignorant of the image of Christ we all must bow before, and that they are aware of the pastor’s testimony (good or bad).

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